Kirsten backs JP to handle the reins

Gary Kirsten has a more informed view of South Africa's cricketers than most of his compatriots, but even he has to wait and see how JP Duminy takes to captaincy when the T20 series against Australia starts in Adelaide tomorrow.

But the former Proteas coach did not hesitate to give Duminy a resounding vote of confidence as he prepares to lead the side in the absence of Faf du Plessis, who - like AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn and Morné Morkel - has been rested for a series that will be played before the five one-day internationals against the Aussies .

Said Kirsten yesterday: "It is particularly encouraging to see us grow our leadership base. We now have a very strong group of senior players and JP is a key member of the group.

"I look forward to watching him grow as a captain.

"In my opinion, he will do a great job for the Proteas.

"Like any leadership position, it takes time to find one's feet and understand the dynamics involved.

"This captaincy experience will give him some invaluable learning and he will move on from strength to strength as a leader in the future."

Duminy went into Sunday's T20 tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Sydney with just one game as a captain under his belt.

Despite the inexperience of their opponents, only one of whom had been capped at senior international level, South Africa slumped to defeat by 22 runs.

But the Proteas, the No1 Test and one-day team, and third-best T20 team, are likely to be back to their slick best - or as close as they can get considering the quality and quantity of the star players who are not around - in tomorrow's match.

Said Ryan Mc-Laren from Australia yesterday: "There's a bit of excitement, a bit of exuberance of youth, and you just sense there is a lot of energy around the camp.

"It's nice to be part of, but there is a lot of work to be done."

McLaren did not subscribe to the theory that the T20 series was a speed bump on South Africa's road to the World Cup next year.

He said: "It's an opportunity to represent South Africa in a T20 game.

"There has been some discussion about it being a warm-up for the ODI series and all that type of stuff, and I don't think it is close to that.

"The guys really respect the fact that it's an honour to play for South Africa and we want to try and win this series. Simple as that.

"We will be challenged to try to adapt to various situations in the game and be flexible in what we have to execute in those different phases. We know that there will be a lot of pressure, that the game changes every two or three balls. The guys need to think on their feet. We need to be street smart."

Too true. But, happily, all of those aspects of the T20 series will remain relevant for the World Cup.